GAO reviewed FY14 through FY18 space launch-related President's Budget (then year dollars) request by NASA, NOAA, and DOD including military services and other offices.

US Government Launch Procurement Budget Requests

(then-year $M)

FY14

FY15

FY16

FY17

FY18

Total

Procurement

4981.4

5819.7

5816.2

5914.4

5915.5

28447.2

RDT&E

2469.0

2473.0

2414.6

2073.9

1834.0

11264.5

Other

1053.5

774.3

770.7

790.0

762.5

4151.0

Total

8503.9

9067.0

9001.5

8778.3

8512.0

43862.7

Total funding seems pretty flat accross the five years examined. Both DOD and NASA are acquiring launch vehicles by launch services contracts. Procurement is about evenly split between DOD and NASA (slightly more by DOD). The bulk of RDT&E dollars are spent by NASA: $10.5 billion over the five years vs. $718 million.

On the slide detailing the RDT&E spending this report cites another GAO report about the FY10 National Defense Authorization Act requirement for the Department of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence to issue a space science and technology strategy every 2 years. GAO recommends DOD coordinate more with NASA and NOAA to leverage their significant RDT&E investment.

I am interested to see what "impediments" GAO finds as a result of their broader effort.